‘Jim Ratcliffe to clash with new Man United arrival – it will be a battle of egos’
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been tipped to clash with a brand new Manchester United arrival over the coming years.
Back in March, Man United announced plans to build a 100,000-seater stadium, which could potentially be completed by 2030.
A task force, including Manchester mayor Andy Burnham and ex-defender Gary Neville, recommended that the club opt for a new development, rather than improving their existing home.
Last week, it was revealed that former Olympic champion Lord Sebastian Coe will lead the £2billion project, which hopes to revitalise the Old Trafford area.
However, Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that Coe will clash with United owner Ratcliffe due to the egos involved in the new relationship.
‘Ratcliffe will be furious if Man United stadium costs escalate’
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness insisted that Ratcliffe will become frustrated as costs start to spin out of control, when the stadium build gets up and running.
The Man United owner has implemented a number of controversial financial measures since he took control of the club in 2023.
Wyness added that although he may have some run-ins with Ratcliffe, Coe is the right person to lead the project.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “It may be a double-edged sword, as I think down the road Coe and Ratcliffe may butt heads.
“Coe’s expectations and self-importance may mean that there’s going to be a bit of a clash of egos when Radcliffe starts seeing costs going out of control, and I can foresee that down the road.
“Overall, Coe is going to have good leadership to get the thing started. It may well be that he leaves in a couple of years, having got the whole process started, and leaves somebody else to crunch the numbers and finish it off as the costs escalate.
“It’s great for United. Coe’s a Chelsea fan, but then again, there’s the bigger picture with Manchester, with Andy Burnham. The group doing this has got some big teeth to actually make compulsory purchases and create the urban regeneration that this project can offer.
“It’s a major project for Britain overall. Coe is probably as good a person as any right now to lead it, and certainly it gives the project some great sort of kudos as it goes forward.
“I’m watching that one closely. I expect some stormy waters, shall we say, after a year or two. So I’m just keeping an eye on that.”
Man United race Everton to sign Ndidi
Meanwhile, Football Insider has revealed that Man United and Everton are in the race to sign Leicester City star Wilfred Ndidi.
A host of clubs have been put on alert by his situation and are prepared to make a move as he is now expected to leave Leicester.
This comes after former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider on 3 July that Everton will reignite their interest in Ndidi this summer.
The Toffees missed out on a deal when he put pen to paper at the King Power Stadium last year, but now face growing competition for his signature.
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